Imprinter

ABSTRACT

An imprinter stamping machine having a vertical stamping movement and a horizontal inking movement, the stamp being positioned at the end of a pivotable linkage member connected to a horizontal moving drive member through a cam linkage, the cam comprising a horizontally pivoted linkage member having a roller slidably received in a groove in a horizontally moving member attached to the horizontally moving ram. The imprinter has a manual screw and axially movable follower for selective abutment against the horizontally movable member to cycle the device.

United States Patent [1 1 Norwood 1 Sept. 4, 1973 1 1 IMPRINTER [75]lnventor: Eugene R. Norwood, Downers Grove, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Norwood Marking and Equipment Co., Inc., La Grange, 111.

22 Filed: Apr. 20, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 135,593

v [52] U.S. Cl 101/44, 101/103, 101/333 [51] Int. Cl. B411 17/00 [58]Field of Search 101/103, 104, 105,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,599,566 8/1971 Fish101/333 3,026,793 3/1962 Clark 101/44 3,216,352 11/1965 Schnackel.....101/333 2,252,649 8/1941 Sma1lman..... 101/333 1,245,624 11/1917Scotford 101/103 2,312,727 3/1943 Nisenson 101/104 X 3,169,413 2/1965Freeman 74/625 3,198,034 8/1965 DeWitte et a1. 74/625 PrimaryExaminer-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-R. T. Rader Attorney-Hill,Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson [57] ABSTRACT An imprinter stampingmachine having a vertical stamping movement and a horizontal inkingmovement, the stamp being positioned at the end of a piv0table linkagemember connected to a horizontal moving drive member through a camlinkage, the cam comprising a horizontally pivoted linkage member havinga roller slidably received in a groove in a horizontally moving memberattached to the horizontally moving ram. The imprinter has a manualscrew and axially movable follower for selective abutment against thehorizontally movable member to cycle the device.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates to marking machinery, and moreparticularly to a cyclic imprint marker.

2. Prior Art Marking machines utilizing rubber or die cut stamps forimprint marking of items on a conveyor line are known to the art. Manysuch markers are vertical action type, where the type bar or carrier iscyclically moved vertically into imprinting contact with the item on theconveyor belt. The marking is normally done with an ink or dye which isapplied to the type face by abutment between it and an ink carryingmember such as an ink pad.

Many types of such machines have been designed, all of them having incommon the features of a moving type carrying member for abutment withthe product to be marked and an ink source and means of coating the typebar. Some devices use a rotating type carrier which rotates into contactwith an ink roller or the like. Others use a vertically moving typecarrier which oscillates vertically in connection with an ink ribbon orroller which moves horizontally to coat the type bar when the type baris in its non-stamping position of vertical movement.

Another type has been suggested which utilizes a pivotable connectionwhereby the type bar can be moved both vertically and horizontally. Inthis manner, the type bar can be moved into imprinting position in itsvertical movement and be abutted against an ink pad in its horizontalmovement. Such horizontal and vertically movable markers have heretoforerequired complex linkages utilizing drag links and the like members.Additionally, they have been difficult to adjust and inconvenient forpurposes of type changing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention overcomes the deficiencies ofthe prior art by providing a vertically and horizontally movable typemarker. The type bar is mounted at the end of a pivotable arm which hasa double pivot whereby it is pivotable around a fixed pivot andpivotable around a moving point so that the type bar at the end of thearm can be moved both horizontally and vertically. A horizontallymovable ram drives the movable pivot through a sliding contact point.Means are provided to adjust the position of the ink pad and furthermeans are provided to manually cycle the marker to raise it to itsvertical point and hold it there for type changing. The contact betweenthe moving pivot member and the horizontally moving ram includes aroller attached to the moving pivot which is free to move in a groove ina horizontally moving member thereby providing a cam driven marker.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improvedimprint marker.

It is a further object to provide an improved imprint marker where thetype bar has both vertical and horizontal movements striking the productto be marked at the end of one movement and striking an ink pad at theend of the other movement.

It is yet another and more specific object of this invention to providean improved imprint marker wherein the type bar is moved by a cam andfollower arrangement in both vertical and horizontal planes by ahydraulic ram or other means, the marker including a manually actuatablemechanism for moving the type marker.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects, features and advantagesof the invention will be readily apparent from the following descriptionof a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may beeffected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novelconcepts of the disclosure, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the marker of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the marker with the outer housing removed;

FIG. 3 is an end plan view of the marker of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a side plan view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating the oppositeside;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines V-V of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a partially fragmentary view of the ink pad adjusting memberof this invention; and

FIG. 7 is an end plan view of the ink pad, taken along the lines VII-VIIof FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 illustrates the marker 10of this invention. The marker includes a primary housing member 11having an end face 12 with attachments and controls mounted thereon. Theside faces 13, 14 and the top face 15 are provided by a U-shaped crosssection cap which is attached by means such as screws 16 and which isremovable from the housing 11. The marker includes mounting flanges l7and 18 for attachment of the marker to production machinery. In thefollowing description, it will be assumed that the marker is attachedunder a product carrying line in a horizontal position so that the typebar carrying member moves in a vertical position to imprint on theunderside of the product carried by the conveyor machinery. It is to beunderstood, however, that this is for purposes of description and thatthe marker can be mounted in a vertical position if so desired or at anydesired angle thereto. It will therefore be understood that when themovement of the type bar is described as being vertical or horizontal,it is so described in relation to a horizontally mounted housing andthat if the housing be mounted with its end face 12 at the top or thebottom thereof, thereby providing a vertically mounted housing, themotion of the type bar carrying member will be the opposite of thatdescribed and that when the marker is mounted at an angle to thevertical, the motion of the type bar will not be horizontal or verticalexcept with respect to the housing.

The marker includes a member 20 which terminates in an inturned flangedgroove 21 which receives the T- slot 22 on the underside of a typecarrying bar 23. The type bar 23 is insertable and removable from thetype carrying member 20 and is maintained therein by a friction springmember.

The top of the housing 11 has an opening 29 therein through which thetype carrying member 20 may project, thereby projecting the type bar 23above the housing for abutment imprinting of a product moving across thetop of the housing. The type carrying member 20 is cyclically moved sothat it intermittently projects above the marker to come into contactwith the product. The movement of the end of the type carrying member 20as hereinafter described is both horizontal and vertical and pivotableso that the type bar moves vertically up into contact with the productto be marked and moves horizontally as a part of its cycle into contactwith an ink pad so that the type is inked.

As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the housing 11 includes the front wall12, a rear wall 30, a top 31 and a bottom 32 and a substantially hollowinterior with walls as hereinafter described. The opening 29 extendsthrough the top wall.

A hydraulic cylinder 33 is mounted through the front wall 12. Thecylinder contains an axially movable ram 34 which is forced out of theend 35 of the cylinder into the interior of the housing axially of thecylinder. The cylinder is mounted in an opening 37 through the frontwall 12 and on a mounting block 38 interior of the housing and may beretained in place as by means of a nut 39 extending through the bottomwall of the housing. The free end 40 of the ram 34 is attached as bymeans of a nut 41 to a horizontally moving member 42. The horizontallymoving member has a free rotating roller wheel 44 attached to the bottomthereof as by means of a nut 45. The roller wheel 44 is received in thecentral slot 46 of a horizontally disposed slotted guide member 47 whichis attached to the housing interiorly thereof. The guide member 47 maybe attached by the same nut 39 which attaches the mounting block 38 ofthe air cylinder. When the hydraulic cylinder is actuated, the axiallymoving ram 34 will carry with it the horizontally moving member 42 whichis guided by contact between the roller 44 and the side walls of thecentral slot 46 of the guide member 47.

The horizontally moving member 42 has an upper portion 48 which maypartially overlie the end of the hydraulic cylinder 33. The upperportion 48 is retained for movement in a given plane by the guidingaction of the roller 44 in the groove 46.

As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the inside face 49 of the upper portion48 has a vertical groove 50 therein.

A horizontally pivoted member 51 is provided. The member 51 issubstantially U-shaped, having two legs 52 and 53 with a bight section54. The bight section 54 is pivotably attached to the housing in theopening 29 adjacent the front end 55 thereof. The pivotable attachmentis across the width of the opening 29 transverse of the housing. The twoleg sections 52 and 53 depend therefrom. The opening 29 is positionedoffcenter of the housing whereby one of the legs 52 is positionedinteriorly of the horizontally moving member 42. That leg 52 has aprojection 56 thereon intermediate the ends of the leg. The projection56 has a roller wheel 57 rotatably attached to the projection 56. Theroller wheel rides in the groove 50. In this manner, when the ram 34 ofthe hyraulic cylinder moves the horizontally movable block 42, thatmotion will be imparted to the horizontally pivoted member 51 throughthe rotatable wheel 57. This will cause the member 51 to pivot in afirst are about its hinged connection 60 to the housing 11. During thepivoting of the member 51, the roller wheel 57 will move up and down inthe groove 50. This movement is in the manner of a cam and follower andis herein so described. It will therefore be understood that whenreference is made to a cam and follower connection between ahorizontally moving member and a horizontally pivoted member, that thisrefers to the connection between the member 51 and the member 42 throughthe roller wheel 57 received in the groove 50. It is the provision ofthe roller wheel and groove arrangement which eliminates heretofore-useddrag linkages and the like. Preferably, the roller wheel has a dimensionjust slightly less than the width of the groove so as to minimize freeplay in the movement of the horizontally pivoted member 51.

The type-carrying member 20 is connected to the member 51 by a pivotableconnection 62 adjacent the ends of the legs 52-53. Therefore, thetype-carrying member 20 moves with the pivotable member 51. An extension63 of the type-carrying member 20 projects beyond the pivot point 62 andhas a central slot 64. A roller wheel 65 is received in the slot 64 andis attached to an internal wall 67 of the housing to form a lost motionconnection between the housing and member 20. In this manner as the typeholding member 20 is carried by the member 51, it is caused to pivot ina second are about the pivotable connection 62 and the roller wheel 65.When the ram 34 is fully withdrawn into the cylinder, the legs 52-53 ofthe member 51 will be vertically disposed and the type-carrying memberwill be horizontally disposed within the housing. As the ram 34 extendsoutwardly of the cylinder, the pivot point 62 between the type-carryingmember 20 and the member 51 will follow the broken line 70 of the firstarc illustrated in FIG. 4. Because of the sliding pivot point connectionbetween the roller wheel 65 and the slot 64, the type bar carryingmember 20 will pivot to change the disposition of the member 20 from ahorizontal to a vertical disposition as illustrated at 71 in FIG. 5. Thebroken lines 72 in FIG. 5 illustrate the midpoint where the type bar isaligned with the legs 52-53. Due to the arcuate nature of the movementof the member 51, the type bar will have a movement approachinghorizontal when in the position illustrated in FIG. 4 and approachingvertical when in the position illustrated at 71. Thus, the type bar canbe said to have both a horizontal and a vertical movement even thoughthe movement is not pure horizontal and pure vertical. Because theroller wheel 65 is positioned directly below the furthest reach of thepivot point 62 when the ram is fully extended and in the same horizontalplane as the furthest reach of the pivot point 62 when the ram is fullywithdrawn, the face of the type bar will be lying in a plane normal toeither the vertical or the horizontal at the respective end movements ofthe ram. Thus, at the end of the travel of the ram, the type bar willproject out of the opening 29 in the top of the housing and bepositioned to strike a product with a movement approaching vertical. Atthe other extreme with the ram fully withdrawn, the type bar will beprojecting in a plane normal to the vertical plane interiorly of thehousing and be in position to strike the pad of an ink containerpositioned in the housing.

The ink container 80 is a cylindrical member which is positioned in thehousing through an opening in the end face 12 thereof. One end of theink container terminates in a circular plate 81 having a rectangularslot 82 therein. The slot opens to a fabric pad. The slot 82 isdimensioned just slightly greater than the type bar 23 so that when thetype bar is in its position as illustrated in FIG. 4, it willsubstantially cover the face of the pad to reduce evaporation of theink. The striking of the type face against the pad will coat the tapewith ink.

A mechanism is provided to adjust the level of extension of the cylinder80 into the housing to control the depth of penetration of the type faceinto the pad, thereby controlling the amount of ink applied to the typeface so as to allow adjustments for lightness and darkness in theimprint. To accomplish this, a pin 85 projects from the outer diameterof the cylinder. The pin 85 is received in a groove 86 in the housingextending into the housing from the front wall. Therefore, alignment ofthe pin with the groove will assure the alignment of the slot 82 toprevent it from becoming angled with respect to the type face.

The cylinder 80 is freely movable in the opening 87 in the front wall12. An adjustment member 90 illustrated in FIG. 6 has a cylindricalmember 91 with a J- groove 92 in the outer diameter thereof. The Jgroovereceives the pin 85 of the cylinder. A threaded knurlended bolt 93extends through the cylinder 91 and is received in a threaded opening inthe housing 11. Therefore, threading and unthreading of the bolt 93 willcause the cylinder 91 to move inwardly and outwardly of the housing 11.The opening 94 in the housing which receives the member 90 is adjacentthe opening 87 which receives the ink cylinder with the slot 86communicating the two openings. The pin 85 extends through the slot 86and into the J-slot 92 where it is retained in the short leg by a springmeans 95. Thus, as the cylinder 91 is moved inwardly and outwardly ofthe housing by threading and unthreading of the bolt 93, the cylinder 80is moved therewith. A spring 96 is entrapped interiorly of the cylinder91 between an inturned end and a radial abutment on the bolt. Thus, thecylinder 91 is continually urged by the spring away from the knurled endof the bolt to a point where it abuts with a snap ring 97 around thethreaded portion of the bolt. In this manner, the cylinder 91 hasshockabsorbing capacities in that when the type face strikes the pad ofthe ink cylinder, the ink cylinder is able to move axially to thelimited extent allowed by the movability of the cylinder 91 between theabutment point against the snap ring 97 and an abutment point againstthe knurled end of the bolt 93. The spring 96 also serves the functionof continually urging the ink cylinder towards the interior of thehousing.

In order to return the type bar to the ink pad, the hydraulic cylinder33 has a spring means 100 positioned therein. The spring is entrappedbetween the end 101 of the cylinder through which the ram 34 projectsand a piston 102 end on the ram. As pressure is supplied to the cylinderthrough the exterior opening 103 thereof, the piston is forced towardsthe other end of the cylinder, thereby compressing the spring and movingthe ram 34 out of the cylinder. When the pressure is released, thespring 100 urges the piston 102 back towards the end 104 exterior of thehousing. The urging of the spring 100 moving the piston 102 moves thehorizontally moving member 42 back towards the face 12 of the housing,thereby carrying the horizontally pivoted member 51 and type-carryingmember 20 back to the position illustrated in FIG. 4, where the typeface will strike the pad of the ink cylinder.

In order to manually cycle the marker in the absence of continuedpressure for the purposes of maintenance, repair or changing of the typeface from the top, a manual cycling actuator is provided. The actuator110 includes a housing 11 positioned interiorly of the marker housing 11above the cylinder 33. The housing 111 has a pair of axially extendingcircular bores therein which are positioned one atop the other and whichoverlap to provide a communication therebetween. In one of the bores, anidler screw 112 is provided which has an extension 113 projectingthrough the front wall 12 of the housing 1.1 and terminating in acontrol knob 114. The idler screw has a helix tooth thereon. A followeror actuator screw 115 is received in the other bore. The actuator screwis freely received in the bore, and has a helix tooth meshed with thetooth of the idler screw 112. Therefore, rotating the idler screw 112will cause the follower screw to be moved axially of the housing 111.The end 117 of the follower screw which is projectable beyond the innerend of the housing 111 lies in a plane which intersects with a face 118of the horizontally movable member 42. Therefore, rotation of the idlerscrew 112 will cause the follower screw to move outwardly of the housing111 into abutting relation with the horizontally movable member 42 toforce it to move away from the end 12 of the housing 11, thus cyclingthe marker. When the manual actuator is not in use, the idler screw isrotated to withdraw the follower screw entirely within the housing 1 1 1of the actuator where it will not interfere with the operation of themarker. However, use of the actuator when desired can result in themaintaining of the typecarrying member in its full vertical position asillustrated at 71, when desired.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, in order to reduce the lengthof the spring 100 in the air cylinder and thereby reduce the tendency ofthe spring to bow when compressed, a pair of springs 100a and 100b areprovided around the ram 34. Each of the springs bottoms against afloating abutment 120 received around the ram intermediate the springs.

It will therefore be appreciated that my abovedescribed inventionprovides a device for intermittent imprint marking which has a typecarrying member which moves in one plane for marking and in a secondplane normal to the forced plane for inking the type. The movement ofthe type carrying member is actuated by movement of a hydraulic ramwhich is attached to a first member which in turn is attached to asecond pivotable member through a cam and follower, the pivotable membercarrying the type carrying member. Additionally, a means is describedfor manual actuation of the marker, the means including mating toothscrews, one of which is restrained against axial movement and the otherof which is free to move axially to force movement of the said firstmember.

Although I have herein set forth my invention with respect to certainspecific principles and details thereof, it will be understood thatthese may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as set forth in the hereunto appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An intermittent imprint marker comprising: a housing, an air cylinderattached to said housing having a ram disposed for movement in saidhousing, said ram attached to a first member whereby said first memberis moved with said ram in a first direction, a pivotable member attachedto said housing, said pivotable member pivotable through an arc, the arclying in a plane parallel to the movement of the ram, said pivotablemember having a projection extending therefrom, said first member havinga groove in a surface thereof, said projection extending into saidgroove, and said projection in said groove providing a cam and followerconnection between the said first member and the said pivotable member,whereby movement of the said first member by the said ram impartsmovement to the said pivotable member through the said cam and followerconnection, and a type bar carrying member being mounted for pivotalmovement on said pivotable member and being attached to the housing by apivotal, lost motion connection so that as the pivotable member ispivoted by the ram, the type bar carrying members pivots relatively toboth the housing and pivotable membets.

2. The marker of claim 1 wherein said projection includes a roller wheelriding in said groove.

3. An intermittent imprint marker according to claim 1, which includesmanual means mounted in the housing for moving the pivotable memberindependent of actuation of the ram.

4. A marker according to claim 3, wherein said manual means includes amanually actuated rod having a helix tooth thereon, said tooth indexingwith a second rod having a cooperating helix tooth thereon, said secondrod free to move axially in dependent response to rotation of said firstrod, and said first rod being restrained against axial movement, saidsecond rod being positioned in the housing to abut said first member tomove the pivotable member.

5. An imprint marker comprising a housing having a top wall and a sidewall, a ram attached to the housing having a movable arm, movable onlylongitudinally of the housing towards and away from the side wall, atype carrying member having a type bar on one end thereof, a linkage fortransmitting motion from the ram arm to the type carrying member, thelinkage including a pivoted member pivotably attached to the housing formovement through a first arc, the arc lying in a plane parallel to themovement of the arm, the type carrying member pivotably attached to, andcarried by the pivoted member, the type carrying member having anextension thereon projecting away from the connection of the typecarrying member to the pivoted member, a fixed pivot on said housing, aslidable and pivotable connection between the fixed pivot and theextension, a cam carried by said arm, and a cam follower carried by saidpivoted member riding against the surface of the cam whereby when thesaid arm moves longitudinally of the housing, the cam moveslongitudinally of the housing, and motion of the cam is transmitted tothe pivoted member through the cam follower causing the pivoted memberto move through the are carrying the type carrying member therewith, thetype carrying member being pivoted through a second are by means of theslidable and pivotable connection to the fixed pivot.

6. The marker of claim 5 wherein the said cam and follower connectionincludes a roller wheel riding in a groove.

7. The marker of claim 6 wherein an ink supply is disposed within saidhousing through a wall of said housing, the said ink supply having anink pad face positioned within the said housing to be struck by the typeportions of the said type bar when the said type carrier is at ahorizontal position within the housing.

8. The marker of claim 7 wherein means are provided to adjustablyposition the ink pad within the said housing.

9. The marker of claim 8 wherein the means for adjusting includes ashock absorber means to absorb the shock to the ink container when thepad is struck by the type bar.

10. The marker of claim 6 wherein manual means are provided to index thepivotable member through an approximately pivot cycle manually in theabsence of pressure acting on the ram.

1. An intermittent imprint marker comprising: a housing, an air cylinderattached to said housing having a ram disposed for movement in saidhousing, said ram attached to a first member whereby said first memberis moved with said ram in a first direction, a pivotable member attachedto said housing, said pivotable member pivotable through an arc, the arclying in a plane parallel to the movement of the ram, said pivotablemember having a projection extending therefrom, said first member havinga groove in a surface thereof, said projection extending into saidgroove, and said projection in said groove providing a cam and followerconnection between the said first member and the said pivotable member,whereby movement of the said first member by the said ram impartsmovement to the said pivotable member through the said cam and followerconnection, and a type bar carrying member being mounted for pivotalmovement on said pivotable member and being attached to the housing by apivotal, lost motion connection so that as the pivotable member ispivoted by the ram, the type bar carrying members pivots relatively toboth the housing and pivotable members.
 2. The marker of claim 1 whereinsaid projection includes a roller wheel riding in said groove.
 3. Anintermittent imprint marker according to claim 1, which includes manualmeans mounted in the housing for moving the pivotable member independentof actuation of the ram.
 4. A marker according to claim 3, wherein saidmanual means includes a manually actuated rod having a helix tooththereon, said tooth indexing with a second rod having a cooperatinghelix tooth thereon, said second rod free to move axially in dependentresponse to rotation of said first rod, and said first rod beingrestrained against axial movement, said second rod being positioned inthe housing to abut said first member to move the pivotable member. 5.An imprint marker comprising a housing having a top wall and a sidewall, a ram attached to the housing having a movable arm, movable onlylongitudinally of the housing towards and away from the side wall, atype carrying member having a type bar on one end thereof, a linkage fortransmitting motion from the ram arm to the type carrying member, thelinkage including a pivoted member pivotably attached to the housing formovement through a first arc, the arc lying in a plane parallel to themovement of the arm, the type carrying member pivotably attached to, andcarried by the pivoted member, the type carrying member having anextension thereon projecting away from the connection of the typecarrying member to the pivoted member, a fixed pivot on said housing, aslidable and pivotable connection between the fixed pivot and theextension, a cam caRried by said arm, and a cam follower carried by saidpivoted member riding against the surface of the cam whereby when thesaid arm moves longitudinally of the housing, the cam moveslongitudinally of the housing, and motion of the cam is transmitted tothe pivoted member through the cam follower causing the pivoted memberto move through the arc carrying the type carrying member therewith, thetype carrying member being pivoted through a second arc by means of theslidable and pivotable connection to the fixed pivot.
 6. The marker ofclaim 5 wherein the said cam and follower connection includes a rollerwheel riding in a groove.
 7. The marker of claim 6 wherein an ink supplyis disposed within said housing through a wall of said housing, the saidink supply having an ink pad face positioned within the said housing tobe struck by the type portions of the said type bar when the said typecarrier is at a horizontal position within the housing.
 8. The marker ofclaim 7 wherein means are provided to adjustably position the ink padwithin the said housing.
 9. The marker of claim 8 wherein the means foradjusting includes a shock absorber means to absorb the shock to the inkcontainer when the pad is struck by the type bar.
 10. The marker ofclaim 6 wherein manual means are provided to index the pivotable memberthrough an approximately 90* pivot cycle manually in the absence ofpressure acting on the ram.